Handstand push-up exercise device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device for assistance with handstand push-ups is disclosed. The device may include a base, a support bar attachment mechanism removeably coupled to the base, and a support bar coupled to the support bar attachment mechanism.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 65/508,419, filed May 19, 2017, whichis expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Handstand push-ups are an exercise in which an athlete positionsher/himself in a handstand position such that the athlete is invertedwith her/his head located below her/his feet and her/his hands incontact with the ground. Once stabilized, the athlete bends her/his armsto and lowers her/his body towards the ground until her/his head makescontact with the floor at which point the athlete straightens her/hisarms and pushes her/his body upwardly away from the floor returning tothe initial handstand position.

Experienced athletes often perform the exercise in a free standingposition such that no part of the athlete's body is in contact with asupport (i.e.: a wall, a fellow athlete). Yet, most athletes lack thestrength and/or ability to perform such an exercise and require theadditional balance provided by a support. Accordingly, until thenecessary strength and/or balance are attained, the athlete may placeher/his feet against a wall or have a partner hold her/his feet toprevent falling. However, even these methods of support require morestrength and balance than some beginner athletes may have, therebymaking the progression of learning a handstand push-up too physicallychallenging for some athletes. A handstand push-up exercise deviceconfigured to provide an athlete with additional support and balancewhen in the handstand position would enable beginner athletes to moreefficiently train to ultimately achieve a free-standing handstandpush-up.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure may comprise one or more of the followingfeatures and combinations thereof.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an exercise devicefor assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups isprovided. The exercise device may include a base, a support bar, and asupport bar attachment mechanism. The base includes a horizontal segmentmounted more than six feet above an underlying floor. The support bar issuspended below the horizontal segment of the base and adapted toprovide an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by the shins orfeet of the athlete performing supported handstand pushups.

The support bar attachment mechanism is configured to suspend thesupport bar relative to the horizontal segment of the base and tosupport the athlete performing supported handstand pushups. The supportbar attachment mechanism includes a pair of upper straps that extendfrom the horizontal segment of the base to the support bar and a pair ofelastic lower straps that extend downwardly from the support bar andprovide loops arranged to underlie the shoulders of the athleteperforming supported handstand pushups so that the athlete is assistedby tension developed in the pair of elastic lower straps duringsupported handstand pushups.

These and other features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support bar of the handstand push-upexercise device showing a plurality of attachment mechanism retainers;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support bar shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the support bar shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the support bar shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise deviceshowing a base, the support bar, and a support bar attachment mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise deviceshowing an engagement member engaging a pair of lower straps;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise deviceshowing the engagement member engaging a pair of lower straps and movinginto an inverted position and engagement with the support bar and theupper straps;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise deviceshowing the lower straps in an extended position and the engagementmember in an inverted position and positioned to perform a handstandpush up;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise deviceshowing the lower straps in a relaxed position and the engagement memberpositioned after having completed the handstand push-up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to a number of illustrativeembodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same.

An illustrative handstand push-up exercise device 10 is shown in FIG. 5.The handstand push-up exercise device 10 includes a base 12, a supportbar attachment mechanism 14, and a support bar 16. The base 12 and thesupport bar attachment mechanism 14 are removeably coupled and cooperateto provide support for the support bar 16. The support bar 16 is spacedapart from the base 12 and removeably coupled to the support barattachment mechanism 14 to provide support to an engagement member 18.Illustratively, the engagement member 18 is an athlete 18 configured toenter an inverted handstand position and perform a handstand push-up asshown in FIGS. 6-9.

The base 12 includes at least one vertical segment 20 including an upperend 22 and a lower end 24. The base 12 further includes at least onehorizontal segment 26 extending outwardly from the upper end 22 of thevertical segment 20 and configured to support the weight of the athlete18 as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. The horizontal segment 26 forms asubstantially 90° angle at an attachment point 25 to the verticalsegment 20 such that when the support bar attachment mechanism 14 isremoveably coupled to the horizontal segment 26, the support barattachment mechanism 14 extends downwardly away from the horizontalsegment 26 remaining spaced apart from the floor.

The support bar attachment mechanism 14 is illustratively formed from anelastic material such that the attachment mechanism 14 is configured tomove between an extended position, as shown in FIG. 8, and a relaxedposition, as shown in FIG. 9. The extended position is achieved byapplying a constant force downwardly away from the base 12 on theattachment mechanism 14 and/or the support bar 16 away from the. Uponrelease of the force, the attachment mechanism 14 is configured toreturn to the relaxed position due to the upward biasing force towardsthe base 12 of the attachment mechanism 14 that is provided by the highelasticity of the material. As such, the attachment mechanism 14 isconfigured to convey the biasing force to the support bar 16 and,ultimately, the athlete 18. The biasing force thereby assisting theathlete in completing the handstand push-up. Illustratively, theattachment mechanism 14 is formed as a plurality of straps 14 as shownin FIG. 5. The attachment mechanism 14 includes a pair of upper straps28 and a pair of lower straps 30.

The upper straps 28 are configured to removeably couple to thehorizontal segment 26 of the base 12 and the support bar 16 such thatthe support bar 16 is positioned below the horizontal segment 26.Illustratively, the upper straps 28 are formed from a material with ahigher modulus of elasticity than the lower straps 30, as suggested inFIGS. 8 and 9. This provides increased stability to the support bar 16and maintains the length of the upper straps 28 throughout theprogression of a handstand push-up. In additional embodiments, the upperstraps 28 and the lower straps 30 may be formed from a material of thesame elasticity. In other embodiments, the lower straps 30 may be formedfrom a material of higher elasticity than the upper straps 28. Further,the upper straps 28 may also be formed from a material with a heightenedmodulus of elasticity resulting in less stretching of the upper straps28.

The lower straps 30 are configured to removeably couple to the supportbar 16 and the athlete 18 such that each lower strap 30 includes a freeend 29 when not engaged by the athlete 18. The free ends 29 arepositioned below the support bar 16 and configured to engage the upperbody of the athlete 18. Illustratively, the free ends 29 are configuredto form at least two openings. Each opening is configured to receive ashoulder of the athlete 18 so that both shoulders are simultaneouslyengaged with the lower straps 30. When engaged with the lower straps 30,the shoulders of the athlete 18 are spaced apart from the floor due tothe biasing force of the lower straps 30 as discussed above.Illustratively, the lower straps 30 are formed from a material of lowerelasticity than the upper straps 28, as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9, toprovide decreased stability to the athlete 18 and allow for movement ofthe lower straps 30 between the extended position and the relaxedposition. The modulus of elasticity of the lower straps 30 may beadjusted by an athlete 18 based on the strength and/or balance of theathlete 18. Lower straps 30 with a high modulus of elasticity willprovide greater assistance to the athlete 18 than lower straps 30 with alow modulus of elasticity. As the modulus of elasticity of the materialincreases, the distance that the material of the lower strap(s) 30 isable to stretch decreases. The removability of the straps 28, 30 allowsfor the support bar 16 to be used interchangeable with a variety ofstraps 28, 30 ranging in elasticity so to meet the needs of a morediverse athlete pool with varying skills and strength.

The support bar 16 is removeably coupled to the lower straps 30 andconfigured to engage the athlete 18. As the athlete 18 moves into thehandstand position, the support bar 16 is configured to stop movement ofthe athlete 18 such that the forward movement of the athlete 18 isblocked by the support bar 16. Illustratively, the support bar 16 isconfigured to engage the lower body of the athlete 18 such that the feetof the athlete 18 are located upwardly above the support bar 16 andextending away from the lower straps 30. The support bar 16 is formed toinclude a surface arranged to be engaged by the shins or feet of theathlete 18 performing supported handstand pushups. This permits theathlete 18 to engage the upper straps 28 with her/his feet, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, and provides additional stability to the athlete 18. Byengaging the upper straps 28 and the lower straps 30 simultaneously, theathlete 18 increases the stability of the device 10 by stabilizing thestraps 28, 30 with the athlete's body. To stabilize the device 10, theathlete 18 engages multiple muscle groups including, but not limited to,the abdomen, deltoids, trapezius, and upper back. Illustratively,increased engagement by the athlete 18 of the muscle groups providesincreased stability while the athlete 18 is in the handstand position.

Illustratively, the support bar 16 is a substantially rectangular shapedand includes a first end 31, a second end 33, a body portion 35, anupper surface 34, and a lower surface 36, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.The first end 31 is located opposite the second end 33 and the bodyportion extends between the two ends 31, 33. The upper surface 34extends upwardly away from the support bar 16 towards the horizontalsegment 26, and the lower surface 36 is positioned opposite the uppersurface 34 and extends downwardly away from the horizontal segment 26.The support bar 16 includes a plurality of attachment mechanismretainers 32 integrally formed in the support bar 16 and configured toreceive and retain the straps 28, 30 in the retainers 32. The pluralityof attachment mechanisms includes a pair of upper retainers 38 and apair of lower retainers 40. The upper retainers 38 are formed in theupper surface 34 of the support bar 16 and configured to engage thelower straps 30 such that the straps 30 are removeably coupled to thesupport bar 16 throughout the athlete's handstand progression andretained in the upper retainers 38. The lower retainers 40 are formed inthe lower surface 36 of the support bar 16 and configured to engage theupper straps 28 so that the straps 28 are removeably coupled to thesupport bar 16 throughout the athlete's handstand progression andretained in the lower retainers 40.

The upper retainers 38 are integrally formed in the upper surface 34 ofthe support bar 16 and are substantially U-shaped having two retainerwalls 42 spaced apart from each other and an upper planar surface 44extending between the two retainer walls 42. The retainer walls 42extend upwardly away from the planar surface 44 such that the upperplanar surface 44 is positioned below a majority of the retainer walls42. Illustratively, each of the lower straps 30 is positioned into oneof the upper retainers 38 so that each upper retainer 38 engages asingle lower strap 30. The upper planar surface 44 is configured toengage a majority of the strap 30 and interact with the retainer walls42 to block the exit of the strap from the upper retainer 38. Further,the upper retainers 38 are formed to have a depth less than the depth ofthe lower retainers 40.

The lower retainers 40 are integrally formed in the lower surface 36 ofthe support bar 16 and include a retainment flange 46, a guide ramp 48opposite the retainment flange 46, and a lower planar surface 50extending between the flange 46 and the guide ramp 52. The retainmentflange 46 is positioned at the ends 31, 33 and extends downwardly awayfrom the upper retainer 38 at a 90° angle relative to a longitudinalaxis 41. The guide ramp 52 is located opposite the retainment flange 46and configured to guide the upper strap 28 into engagement with thelower planar surface 50 and the retainment flange 46. Illustratively,the guide ramp 52 extends downwardly away from the upper retainer 38 atan angle less than 90° relative to the longitudinal axis 41. Further,the lower retainers 40 are formed to be positioned closer to the ends31, 33 of the support bar 16 than the upper retainers 38.

In preparing the device 10 for use, the athlete 18 couples the upperstraps 28 to the horizontal segment 26 of the base 12 and the lowerstraps 30 to the support bar 16. Illustratively, the upper straps 28 areremoveably coupled to the segment 26 by wrapping each upper strap 28around the horizontal segment 26 thereby creating a loop in each strap28 and threading one end of each strap 28 through the respective loop.Further, the lower straps 30 are removeably coupled to the support bar16 and placed in engagement with the planar surface 44 of the respectiveupper retainer 38 such that the strap 28 is retained in the upperretainer 38 by the retainer walls 42 flanking the planar surface 44. Thesupport bar 16 is now prepared to be coupled to the upper straps 28 viathe respective lower retainers 40. Illustratively, each upper strap 28is placed in engagement with the respective planar surface 50 such thatthe strap 28 is retained in the lower retainer 40 by the retainmentflange 46. The device 10 may now support the athlete 18 throughout thehandstand progression.

After the initial set-up discussed above, the device 10 is configured tosupport and provide assistance to the athlete 18. To complete ahandstand push-up using the device 10, the athlete 18 first placesher/his shoulders into the loops created by the lower straps 30 as shownin FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the athlete 18 then kicks her/his feetupwardly towards the support bar 16 such that the athlete 18 is now inan inverted position and prepared to complete a handstand push-up. Theathlete 18 engages the upper straps 28 with her/his feet and bendsher/his arms to substantially 90° such that the device 10 is in theextended position as shown in FIG. 8. The athlete 18 is in position topress into the floor thereby moving her/his body upwardly towards thehorizontal segment 26 and straightening her/his arms such that thedevice 10 is in the relaxed position. Upon the movement of theengagement member 18 between the relaxed to the extended position, themember 18 overcomes the bias of the straps 28, 30 while movingdownwardly towards away from the base 12. The bias of the straps 28, 30is configured to translate the upward biasing force of the straps 28, 30to the member 18 thereby assisting the member 18 in moving upwardlytowards the base 12 from the extended position to the relaxed position.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in theforegoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered asexemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described andthat all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of thedisclosure are desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device for assisting an athleteperforming supported handstand pushups, the exercise device comprising abase including a horizontal segment mounted more than six feet above anunderlying floor, a support bar suspended below the horizontal segmentof the base and adapted to provide an engagement surface arranged to beengaged by the shins or feet of the athlete performing supportedhandstand pushups, and a support bar attachment mechanism configured tosuspend the support bar relative to the horizontal segment of the baseand to support the athlete performing supported handstand pushups, thesupport bar attachment mechanism including a pair of upper straps thatextend from the horizontal segment of the base to the support bar and apair of elastic lower straps that extend downwardly from the support barand provide loops arranged to underlie shoulders of the athleteperforming supported handstand pushups so that the athlete is assistedby tension developed in the pair of elastic lower straps duringsupported handstand pushups.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, whereinthe support bar includes a pair of upwardly-opening channels that eachreceive one of the pair of elastic lower straps to provide a retainerfor locating the pair of elastic lower straps in a predeterminedlocation along the support bar.
 3. The exercise device of claim 2,wherein the support bar includes a pair of downwardly-opening channelsthat each receive one of the pair of upper straps to provide a retainerfor locating the pair of upper straps in a predetermined location alongthe support bar.
 4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the upperstraps are provided by elastic loops.
 5. The exercise device of claim 4,wherein the pair of upper straps have a higher modulus of elasticitythan the pair of elastic lower straps.
 6. The exercise device of claim3, wherein the predetermined locations for the upper straps defined bythe downwardly-opening channels are closer to left and right ends of thesupport bar than the predetermined locations for the lower strapsdefined by the upwardly-opening channels.
 7. The exercise device ofclaim 3, wherein the pair of downwardly-opening channels have a heightgreater than that of the pair of upwardly-opening channels.
 8. Anexercise device for assisting an athlete performing supported handstandpushups, the exercise device comprising a base including a horizontalsegment, a support bar suspended below the horizontal segment of thebase, and a support bar attachment mechanism configured to suspend thesupport bar relative to the horizontal segment of the base and tosupport the athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the supportbar attachment mechanism including a pair of elastic lower straps thatextend downwardly from the support bar and provide loops arranged tosupport the athlete performing supported handstand pushups so that theathlete is assisted by tension developed in the pair of elastic lowerstraps during supported handstand pushups.
 9. The exercise device ofclaim 8, wherein the support bar includes a pair of upwardly-openingchannels that each receive one of the pair of elastic lower straps toprovide a retainer for locating the pair of elastic lower straps in apredetermined location along the support bar.
 10. The exercise device ofclaim 9, wherein the support bar attachment mechanism includes a pair ofupper straps that extend from the horizontal segment of the base to thesupport bar to couple the support bar to the horizontal segment.
 11. Theexercise device of claim 10, wherein the support bar includes a pair ofdownwardly-opening channels that each receive one of the pair of upperstraps to provide a retainer for locating the pair of upper straps in apredetermined location along the support bar.
 12. The exercise device ofclaim 11, wherein the upper straps are provided by elastic loops. 13.The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the pair of upper straps have ahigher modulus of elasticity than the pair of elastic lower straps. 14.The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined locations forthe upper straps defined by the downwardly-opening channels are closerto left and right ends of the support bar than the predeterminedlocations for the lower straps defined by the upwardly-opening channels.15. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the pair ofdownwardly-opening channels have a height greater than that of the pairof upwardly-opening channels.
 16. A method for using an exercise devicefor assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups, themethod comprising wrapping a pair of upper straps around a horizontalsegment of a base mounted more than six feet above an underlying floorthereby creating a loop in each one of the upper straps; threading afirst end of each of the upper straps through the loop formed in each ofthe upper straps until the upper straps are securely coupled to thehorizontal segment of the base; placing each one of a pair of elasticlower straps around a support bar and into one of the pair ofupwardly-opening channels integrally formed in the support bar such thata majority of the elastic lower strap is located on a planar surface ofthe upwardly-opening channel located between a pair of retainer walls,the each of the pair of elastic lower straps forming a loop configuredto receive the shoulders of an athlete; and placing each one of a pairof upper straps around a support bar and into one of the pair ofdownwardly-opening channels integrally formed in the support bar suchthat a majority of the upper strap is located on a planar surface of thedownwardly-opening channel located between a retainment flange and aguide ramp.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising placing theshoulders into the loops created by the elastic lower straps; kickingthe feet of an athlete upwardly towards the support bar so that theathlete is in an inverted position; wrapping the feet of an athletearound the upper straps; bending the arms of an athlete such that thehead of an athlete is lowered towards the underlying floor; stoppingmovement of the arms when the head contacts the floor; and straighteningthe arms of an athlete such that the head is raised towards the supportbar.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pair of upper straps have ahigher modulus of elasticity than the pair of elastic lower straps.